Steering column "clunk"

[NM5K]

Hi, got a question about the steering columns...This actually applies to
my 74, but wt-heck...:lol:It's had this problem for a while, even before I got it..
It makes a clunking noise when you turn the wheel. It's hard to pin down exactly where it's coming from in the column, but seems to be about in the lower middle maybe...It doesn't always do it...If there is not a lot of drag on the steering , IE: moving, you hardly notice it. It seems the worst when parked, and trying to turn, or when going real slow, and having to cut a quick turn. It's kinda of a clunk-clunk, as it turns, and from the feel and sound, I bet it's one of the u joints, or something along those lines. That truck has always been hard to turn when slow, or parked, and all the stress has probably worn out a bearing or u joint. I've never taken apart a column, and wonder how much hassle it is to deal with this...I looked in the manuals to see pix, but doesn't really tell me a whole lot...Is it easy to change these bearings/joints, or is it best to just look for a new steering column?
There seems to be no excess slop in the steering from normal, and otherwise is ok... Just the clunking....
BTW..I looked at the rag joint, and seems ok, but not totally sure, as I can't look at the rag joint, and turn the wheel hard enough to make it clunk, at the same time... I just grabbed it from under the hood and tried to turn it with my hands, looking for slop. Didn't really notice any, so I guess it's in the column. MK

[FORDification]

The steering shaft is nothing more than that...one solid steel shaft with a bearing (of sorts) at each end. If you grab the wheel and try to shake it in and out is there any slop there? If so, that would be the bearing at the far end. It's a two-piece design held in place with a slip-collar. If the bearing is worn (or the slip collar has moved) the two pieces of that bearing won't be in contact with each other, making it move around. Once the column is out and you remove the steering wheel, the shaft will drop right out.

[NM5K]

I just went out and tested it. There is no slop if you try to pull the wheel in and out. But I did notice a small bit of side to side slop. Not a whole lot, but some...Maybe a 1/4 inch?? No more than that..Maybe slightly less...When I tugged the wheel back and forth, I could see the upper part where the turn signal is, kind of rock back and forth a bit. What made me think it might be a u joint, is that it's actually kind of a knock, knock, noise, but it's only when you turn the wheel certain ways. It doesn't do it through the whole revolution of the steering wheel. Only at one or two places maybe...It gets to that point, and you hear a knock, knock, sound, as it passes that point in the steering...You can kind of feel it too...Like it's slightly binding maybe. But the binding isn't enough to make it harder to steer when it gets to that point. I was thinking maybe a rusted mount, or cab mounts, but they seem ok, as far as that. I can't see any place the column is hitting the body. The cab mounts, although kinda rusty, seem intact. It's not a major deal, but something I want to fix for sure, if I keep the truck any period of time...Drives me nuts hearing that knock...MK

[willowbilly3]

It might be a sign the front cab mounts are bad. Same thing my 72 did when they went bad on it. I couldn't figure out why the lower shaft bearing kept disintigrating.

[NM5K]

It does have a good bit of rust in that area. But I looked at the cab mounts, and they *seem* to be intact. But maybe there is a problem I can't see with it. As far as I can tell, the bushings looked ok, but of course, that could be misleading also, if they were fried in the middle...I'll take a closer look at them...The cab mounts were about the first thing I was thinking of also, being it's got rust there. I had also heard of those causing this type of problem. But also, the steering has always been pretty stiff on that truck, and it's possible it's just wore out from the strain...Hard to say, cuz it started doing that before I got it.. That 1/2 ton truck is much harder to turn the wheel, than my 3/4 68...My 68 almost feels like power steering in comparison. And that 74 has always been that way.. I've driven it for years off and on, so it's not anything new or different as far as that. BTW...I did notice one thing....It appears that the steering gear is leaking oil. I see oil around that area, and I don't think it's spray from the engine. So it might be low on oil...I'll have to see if I can find a plug or whatever to check it...Are they supposed to be fairly full to the plug hole, or whatever? I've never had to mess with a steering gear, other than just adjusting one on occasion..
MK